Be Remarkable - On "asking a better question"

We talk. We tell. We explain. Then we repeat it all again, but this time a little louder, longer, firmer, just in case we haven’t been clear enough! But what if the problem isn’t in what we’re saying, it’s what we’re not asking? In our rush to be heard, we’ve stopped being curious. I’d say it’s probably the biggest thing that comes up in clients’ sessions - that inability to know when to stop with the comments and start with the smarter, sharper question. So, this week, it’s time to flip the script, and explore the power of asking the better question.

be remarkable (presentations)

Great presenters don’t just deliver answers, they provoke thinking. Instead of asking, “Any questions?” at the end can I suggest ask something better, earlier: For example, “What’s missing from this?”, “Where does this not land?”, or “What would you change?” These kinds of questions pull people in, they signal that you’re not just here to inform, but to engage. And when you interact throughout, not just at the end, you shift the room from passive watching to active contribution. A presentation is a performance; but it’s also an opportunity for an audience to feel something, and when that happens - you've truly connected.

be remarkable (meetings)

Most meetings are filled with answers nobody needed and updates nobody asked for. So...let's flip that! Start with a question that opens things up. I love this...“What are we not talking about that we should be?” or “What’s the assumption we’re all making here?” The right question cuts through fog, surfaces tension, and invites clarity. Meetings don’t need more talking, we all know that. Instead they need sharper thinking, and the good news is, better questions get you there.

be remarkable (in an interview)

In an interview, most people focus on answering! However, the smartest ones know how to ask. Crackers like, “What does success look like in this role six months from now?” or “What’s one challenge the team’s currently navigating?” changes the tone instantly. It signals that you’re not just going through the motions, you’re thinking. The right question doesn’t just get you noticed, it gets you remembered. So, if you have something significant coming up can I please urge you to have a few beauties up your sleeve, ready to go. The impact will be huge!

Final thought…

Remarkable communicators don’t dominate rooms with answers, they unlock them with questions. Curiosity is not weakness, it is control disguised as humility. When you ask better questions, you change the quality of thinking in the room, not just the volume of talking. So your challenge this week: trade certainty for curiosity and watch what opens.